Strawberries and raspberries from our local PYO shop, though to be quite honest, you can only pick over the weekend. These beautiful fruits from Sinnington tasted as good as they looked, and though there are the makings there of Eton Mess we ate them as they came. The wife makes her own chutneys, jams, cakes, both chocolate and coffee, plus scones and of course meringues, plus they run a small nursery on the side. Hardworking.
Lucy and I went round the fields yesterday, it was much cooler, the two fields by the river are just kept for hay but both owned by different farms. So one was cut, the other field grasses as tall as an 'elephants eye'. But the verges had meadowsweet springing to life along with the blue of the wild cranesbill. Meadowsweet has such a myth around it, its sweet aroma strewn on the floor of many a medieval house. But according to a Wiki entry.
"meadowsweet has been found with the cremated remains of three people and at least one animal in a Bronze Age cairn at Fan Foel, Carmarthenshire. Similar finds have also been found inside a Beaker from Ashgrove, Fife, and a vessel from North Mains, Strathallan. These could indicate honey-based mead or flavoured ale, or might suggest the plant placed on the grave as a scented flower"
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| A Wiki capture of meadowsweet in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire |
Himalayan Balsam rears its rather pretty head along the river, the cut field has cut the heads off, the other field has allowed it to grow, but this could be because the farm has recently been sold and is under restoration.
Mr. Trump = Wasteman ;)
Mr. Trump = Wasteman ;)
I love the way Meadowsweet follows Cow Parsley in the roadsides as sure as night follows day. I love the smell too.
ReplyDeleteMy farmer would have been in his element cutting for hay this year. We never needed it but he always cut a bit for old times sake and because he absolutely loved doing it. I am sad he isn't here to do it in the first year of absolutely certain hay for many years.
There must be many sad moments for you Pat, this year has been glorious for haymaking and the Farmer would truly have loved it, though not this heat I think.
ReplyDeleteMeadowsweet is one of my Dad's favourites.
ReplyDeleteArilx
I am always so pleased to see it, especially as we are theoretically in a drought, and it has such a history.
DeleteLove the rural coolness of your country.
ReplyDeleteWell it is very hot at the moment, but maybe you have read the link...The green party mayor represents a very culturally mixed city, the North is a very lively place;)
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